Flood Prevention
Definition
Infrastructure and planning strategies that reduce flooding risk to protect lives, property, and public safety. Approaches include stormwater management systems, flood control structures (levees, floodwalls, detention basins), floodplain regulations that prevent development in flood-prone areas, and green infrastructure that absorbs stormwater. Flood prevention is cheaper than flood recovery—every $1 invested in prevention saves $6 in disaster costs.
Louisville Context
Louisville experiences flooding from multiple sources: Ohio River floods (most recent major flood 1997), flash flooding from intense rainstorms (increasingly common with climate change), and basement flooding from combined sewer backups. Shawnee neighborhood faces frequent flooding due to low elevation and inadequate stormwater infrastructure. MSD’s CSO improvements will reduce some flooding, but climate change is increasing rainfall intensity.
Why It Matters
Flooding destroys property, displaces families, and can be deadly. Low-income neighborhoods often face the worst flooding because they lack resources to maintain infrastructure and political power to demand improvements. As climate change increases extreme rainfall, flood prevention investments become more urgent and cost-effective than repeated disaster response.
Dave’s Proposal
Dave will create a comprehensive Flood Prevention Strategy coordinating Metro Public Works, MSD, and Parks to identify high-risk neighborhoods and prioritize green infrastructure investments that manage stormwater while providing community benefits. His $1.025 billion budget includes funding for flood buyouts in repetitive-loss areas, relocating families to safe housing rather than rebuilding in flood zones.